VOLUME 13, ISSUE 21 • May 25, 2017

Neil Sperry editor. Gretchen Drew design and circulation.

A safe and reverent Memorial Day weekend to you and yours. Hopefully it will include a little gardening, and to that end we've included fun information in this e-gardens:

This week, we have…
• Cora periwinkles are all-star performers;
• Gardening goals for this weekend;
• What's happened to pistachios this year?
• Two unusual groundcovers from our house; and
• Root rot – or not?

Photo: Neil’s newest book
showing sample pages

Timer is ticking…
Still haven't gotten your copy of my newest book at the special sale price? Wait much longer and the price will go back up. Neil Sperry's Lone Star Gardening only $29.95 plus tax and postage. Signed copy. 344 pages. 840 of my photographs. Not in stores. Not on Amazon. Available only from my office (800-752-4769) or website. Satisfaction guaranteed. Great Father's Day gift.

Photo: Cora periwinkles add pizazz to the garden.

Call Out for Cora!

Cora periwinkles have made it possible for us to enjoy this old favorite Texas summer annual once again. They're resistant to the stem disease that ruined almost all of our plantings. See how to succeed.

Photo: Cora periwinkles laugh at the Texas heat.

From the Sperry Gardens

I love this groundcover. It grows beautifully in shade. It blooms each spring. It's easy to propagate. I've never seen a pest or disease bother it. I've been growing it for 30 years. But there are some downsides. For one thing, what is it?

Photo: Lamium is a Sperry favorite groundcover. But why don't I talk about it more?

Gardening This Weekend

Maybe you'll have a little extra time this weekend to tend to the landscape and garden, and if so, I've made a checklist of the most timely things you'll want to get done. Click through them to see if any matches up with the plants at your place.

Photo: Moss rose 'Sundial' mix perfect for planting now.

Question of the Week: May 25, 2017

"Neil, I have three Chinese pistachios. Two of them look fine, but the third one has been very sparse in leafing out this spring. What is wrong?"

I talked to an expert.

Photo: Thin foliage of a Chinese pistachio.

Explaining "Root Rot"

I get a lot of calls and questions from people who use the short phrase "root rot" in describing what they think has killed one of their plants. But it may be much more specific than that, and this is a good time to explain the difference.

Photo: Ornamental pear dying from cotton root rot

And, in closing…

You've come to the end of the reading assignment. We'll have a test in the next class. In the meantime, please be safe over this weekend, and remember to say a prayer of thanks to those who made this great country possible.

Until next week, I'll see you in all those old familiar places like Facebook, radio, newspapers, website, podcasts, hamburger stand and church.

Until then,
Happy Gardening!

Neil